Food packaging comprising clip elements

ABSTRACT

Foodstuffs packaging, such as an egg carton, having a bottom part which has at least one row of shaped depressions for accommodating eggs or separate articles and a lid part, which is arranged for swing action on the bottom part, the bottom part or the lid part being provided with complementary clamping elevations and clamping openings, the clamping openings being arranged on the other of the lid part or the bottom part offset in relation to the clamping elevations. The offset arrangement of the clamping elevations and of the clamping openings allows the units to be connected with clamping action such that they are offset in relation to one another. The clamping openings may be connected to a trough which produces an accommodating space for items which are to be inserted therein, it being possible for the accommodating space to be closed off using a sticker as a cover.

The invention relates to foodstuffs packaging, in particular an egg box,having a bottom part, which has at least one row of shaped depressionsfor accommodating separate articles, in particular eggs, and having alid part, which is arranged for swing action on the bottom part, thebottom part and the lid part being provided with complementary clampingelevations and clamping openings.

Egg boxes with complementary clamping elevations and clamping openingson the bottom part and on the top part are known per se (for examplefrom FR-A-2 441 549). In the case of the known packaging, however, theclamping elevations and the clamping openings are arranged such that,when egg boxes are stacked one above the other, the clamping elevationsof one egg box engage in the clamping openings of the egg box locatedabove and/or beneath the same. Although this arrangement of the clampingelevations and clamping openings allows egg boxes which are stackeddirectly one above the other to be securely interconnected, this provesto be disadvantageous if egg boxes are to be moved individually, forexample for sales purposes. Beyond the task of holding together eggboxes which are stacked directly one above the other, the arrangement ofthe clamping elevations and openings does not perform any additionalfunction in the case of the known egg boxes.

The object of the invention is to provide foodstuffs packaging of thetype mentioned in the introduction in the case of which the function ofthe clamping elements is improved.

The object is achieved according to the invention by foodstuffspackaging having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments canbe gathered from the subclaims.

In the case of foodstuffs packaging, in particular an egg box, having abottom part, which has at least one row of shaped depressions foraccommodating separate articles, in particular eggs, and having a lidpart, which is arranged for swing action on the bottom part, the bottompart and the lid part being provided with complementary clampingelevations and clamping openings, the invention provides that theclamping openings are arranged on one of the two, the lid part or thebottom part, and the clamping elevations are arranged on the other, thebottom part or the lid part, the clamping openings being offsetlaterally in relation to the clamping elevations.

As a result of the configuration according to the invention, theclamping elevations and clamping openings of foodstuffs packaging unitswhich are stacked directly one above the other are not arranged inalignment with one another and thus cannot engage one inside the other.This avoids the situation where egg packaging units which are stackeddirectly one above the other get stuck together. However, and hereinlies the ingenuity of the invention, it is possible for foodstuffspackaging units which are stacked one above the other to be connected toone another with clamping action, to be precise if they are offset inrelation to one another. This provides a surprising additional function.It is usually the case that foodstuffs packaging units, once theircontents have been used up, perform no further function; they are thrownaway once their contents has been removed. The invention provides asecond possible use for the foodstuffs packaging, in particular for eggboxes. This is because the complementary clamping elevations andopenings allow the foodstuffs packaging units, which are empty followinguse, to continue to be used, to be precise as clamping-type buildingblocks. It is thus possible for the foodstuffs packaging units accordingto the invention, once they have fulfilled their packaging function,still to be used as a toy. Since foodstuffs packaging units havecomparatively large dimensions in relation to classic clamping-typebuilding blocks, they are suitable, in particular, for formingcomparatively large structures, for example for constructing toy castlesfor children, which, using conventional clamping-type building blocks,can only be produced with comparatively high outlay, if at all. Theirsize thus makes it possible for even large structures to be constructedrapidly. Furthermore the foodstuffs packaging units according to theinvention have the advantage that they are available as clamping-typebuilding blocks at more or less no cost.

The arrangement of the clamping elevations and clamping openingsaccording to the invention, furthermore, has the advantage that thestackability of the foodstuffs packaging units in the open state remainsunaffected. The packaging units can still be stacked, and if appropriatealso easily destacked, in the open state. In order that this destacking(denesting) takes place straightforwardly, the clamping elevationsand/or clamping openings are preferably respectively no higher or deeperthan a maximum nesting height. The maximum nesting height depends on theconcrete parameters of the respective foodstuffs packaging, inparticular the desired denesting capability and the amount of spacerequired. Depending on the material thickness and the coefficient offriction of the material, the nesting height is usually between 4 and 15mm, and is preferably between 7 and 9 mm. By virtue of the stackabilitythus achieved, the storage costs decrease both for the manufacturer andfor the packaging company and packaging can take place morecost-effectively.

The clamping openings are expediently arranged such that, in the closedstate of the lid part, they are arranged approximately centrally overtwo adjacent clamping elevations in a row. Such an offset allows aplurality of foodstuffs packaging units according to the invention to beinterconnected particularly well. This makes it possible for stable wallsections running over relatively long distances to be constructed oreven for corner connections to be produced.

For the better interconnection of a plurality of foodstuffs packagingunits, the top edge of the lid part is expediently configured such thatits spacing from the nearest clamping opening is, at most, equal to thefree spacing between adjacent clamping elevations. Free spacing isunderstood as being the clear distance between two adjacent clampingelevations. This configuration achieves the situation where the clampingelevations of a foodstuffs packaging unit placed on top engage either inthe clamping openings on the lid part of the bottom foodstuffs packagingunit or engage on the far side of the top edge of the lid part. Thisavoids the situation where clamping elevations rest directly on the topside of the lid part, as a result of which the top foodstuffs packagingunit would be skewed and a reliable and correct fit of the foodstuffspackaging unit would be prevented.

The clamping elevations and the clamping openings expediently have aconicity of 2° to 15°, preferably of 7° to 9°. On the one hand, such aconicity makes it possible to achieve a good level of reliability forthe clamping connection; on the other hand, however, it also allowssufficiently easy separation of the foodstuffs packaging units, withoutan excessive amount of force having to be applied for this purpose. Thisapplies, in particular, to the denesting of foodstuffs packaging unitsstacked in the open state.

The clamping elevations are preferably provided at their bottom borderwith an annular structure as indent. An annular structure of toricdesign, with the result that a toric recess forms, has provenparticularly successful. On account of its shape, it has increasedelasticity in this region, by means of which the packaged foodstuffs areprotected particularly well against damage by impact, for example bybeing set down with force. Such indents thus improve not just theprotective function but also, in addition, the overall visual impressiongiven by the foodstuffs packaging.

At least six clamping elevations, arranged in a double row, arepreferably provided. It goes without saying that a corresponding numberof clamping openings, e.g. four, then also have to be provided. Thisnumber makes it possible to achieve a stable clamping-typeinterconnection of a plurality of foodstuffs packaging units. Of course,it is also possible to provide eight or more clamping elevations.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, which possibly alsomerits independent protection, the lid part has a trough, which is openin the upward direction, and a covering means, which covers the troughin the upward direction. The term “open in the upward direction” here isto be understood as meaning that, in the closed state of the lid part,the trough is accessible from the outside. This achieves the situationwhere, on the one hand, the trough provides an additional stiffeningelement and, on the other hand, the trough and the covering meansproduce a space into which items can be inserted. The covering meansprevents the inserted item from dropping out of the trough in anundesired manner. For this purpose, the covering means is designed suchthat, in conjunction with the trough, it forms a closed-offaccommodating space. The flanks on the base of the trough preferablyhave no through-passages or only through-passages with an inside widthwhich is small enough in order to prevent the articles which are to beinserted from passing through in an undesired manner. The articles whichare to be inserted have preferably already been inserted by the supplierof the foodstuffs packaging, but it is also possible, if appropriate,for them only to be inserted during packaging of the foodstuffs or, at alater stage, by a retailer. The item may be, for example, leafletscontaining recipes or else small utensils, in particular a child's toy,an egg spoon and/or a portion pack containing herbs and spices. Thefoodstuffs packaging then provides the customer not just with thefoodstuffs contained in it but also, as an added extra, with the iteminserted into the trough. In addition to its securing function, thecovering means also has a further, important function. The user mustfirst remove the covering means from the trough in order to reach theitem located therein. This puts the user in a cheerful state ofexpectation as to what he is going to find beneath the covering means,this being similar to the sense of surprise when unwrapping presents.Since the user already knows when he purchases the foodstuffs that hewill later experience this pleasant sense of surprise, he alreadyregards the foodstuffs packaging in a favourable light as he is makingthe decision to purchase it. The foodstuffs packaging according to theinvention thus performs the important function of packaging to aparticularly great extent, that is to say in addition to protecting thegoods contained in it, it also encourages the customer to make apurchase.

Furthermore, the trough also has a stiffening effect for the lid part.By way of its flanks, it forms an additional ribbing arrangement for thelid part, which thus enhances rigidity. This also improves theprotective function of the foodstuffs packaging according to theinvention. This thus results overall in a surprising combined effect,that is to say, on the one hand, the foodstuffs packaging is stiffened,and the foodstuffs accommodated therein are thus better protected, and,on the other hand, the presentation is improved by an accommodatingspace being produced for small items.

The covering means is preferably a sticker. The trough can thus becovered in a particularly cost-effective manner. Moreover, the stickerprovides a printing surface which can be utilized for furtherpresentation purposes or for other advertising imprints.

In the case of foodstuffs packaging with two rows of shaped depressions,the trough is expediently arranged such that it is located over thecentre between these two rows. It is also possible, however, to providea plurality of troughs, which are then preferably arranged parallel toone another.

It is expedient if the lid part is provided with retaining depressions,which are preferably connected to the trough. The retaining depressionsadditionally stiffen the lid part. In addition, they may be shaped suchthat they interact with the articles which are to be accommodated, thatis to say, in the case of an egg box, in particular with the top side ofthe eggs. This makes it possible to prevent undesired movement of theeggs in the shaped depressions as occur, for example, when an egg box isbeing moved quickly, in particular during transportation. If the troughis connected to the retaining depressions, then this also has theadvantage that a considerably larger accommodating space is produced atthe same time as the rigidity of the lid part is increased.

The trough and the retaining depressions expediently are approximatelythe same depth. As a result, the floors of the respective depressionsare located at the same height so that, overall, they form a planarsurface. This has the advantage of providing the lid part, and thus thefoodstuffs packaging as a whole, with a more pleasing appearance thanwould be the case with different depths and the resultingcrevice-containing structure of the floor. It is also possible for thetrough to have a greater depth than the retaining depressions, with theresult that, in the accommodating space, a channel forms in the regionof the trough. On the one hand such a channel may be quite desirable forthe items which are to be inserted. On the other hand, the channeladditionally has a stiffening effect, with the result that the rigidityof the lid part is yet further improved.

The troughs and/or the retaining depressions preferably have/has a depthwhich is no greater than a maximum nesting height of the foodstuffspackaging. Limiting the depth to the maximum nesting height improves thestackability of the foodstuffs packaging unit in the open, not yetfilled state. A particular advantage resides in the fact that it is alsopossible for the foodstuffs packaging units to be stacked when thetrough has already been closed by the covering means.

This is advantageous in particular in the case where the covering meansis a sticker, for example a label. It is then also possible for alreadylabelled foodstuffs packaging units to be stacked. This allows thefoodstuffs packaging units to be labelled, and provided with the itemswhich are to be inserted, before being filled. The nesting height isusually between 4 and 15 mm, and is preferably between 7 and 9 mm.

The retaining depressions are preferably offset laterally in relation tothe shaped depressions. Offset laterally means that the retainingdepressions in the lid part, rather than being arranged precisely overthe respective shaped depressions of the base part, are offsethorizontally, with the result that a retaining depression is arrangedapproximately in the centre over two adjacent depressions in a row. Inthe case of the offset arrangement, a smaller number of retainingdepressions is sufficient for acting on all of the articles packaged infoodstuffs packaging. For example, in the case of an egg box for sixeggs, four retaining depressions are then sufficient. For furtherstiffening of the retaining depressions, it may be expedient if theretaining depressions have an indent on their floor. This indent may becurved concavely or preferably convexly, i.e. in the upward direction.

It is expedient for the retaining depressions to be designed as clampingopenings and for the shaped depressions to be designed as clampingelevations. For example, the shaped depressions may be provided with abottom border which is dimensioned such that it engages in aforce-fitting manner in the clamping openings. This allows thefoodstuffs packaging unit to be designed as a clamping-type buildingblock with only a small amount of additional outlay.

The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference tothe egg boxes illustrated in the drawing as exemplary embodiments. Inthe drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of theegg box according to the invention in the open state;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the egg box according to FIG. 1 inthe closed state;

FIG. 3 shows the egg box according to the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a plurality of egg boxes in clamping-type interconnectionwith one another.

An egg box according to the invention is illustrated in the swung-openstate in FIG. 1 and in the closed state in FIG. 2. The egg box, which isdesignated 1 overall, comprises a bottom part 2 and a lid part 3, whichis fastened for swing action on the bottom part 2 via a flexible hinge25, and a sticker 7 fitted on said lid part (see FIG. 3). In the closedstate, the lid part 3 rests on the bottom part 2 and covers over thelatter completely. Pivoting the lid part 3 through approximately 180°about the axis of the flexible hinge 25 moves the lid part 3 into itsopen position. In the latter, the lid part 3 is located approximately inthe same plane as the base part 2. In this position, a plurality of eggboxes can be stacked in a space-saving manner.

The base part 2 has a plurality of shaped depressions for accommodatingeggs. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the shaped depressions 21are arranged in two parallel rows of in each case three shapeddepressions 21. These shaped depressions 21 are formed by acorresponding configuration of the wall of the base part 2 and by twosupports 23 arranged in the centre. The shaped depressions areconfigured such that eggs inserted therein do not come into contact withone another. In order to fix the lid part 3 in the closed state, tworetaining noses are arranged on a front side of the base part 2.

The lid part 3 is of tray-like configuration and comprises a rear part,a top part 31, two side parts 32 and a front part 33. The front part 33contains two openings 34, which are intended for interacting with thenoses 24 for the base part 2 in order to lock the lid part 3, in theclosed state, to the base part 2. In the closed state, the lid part 3,together with the base part 2, bounds an interior in which the eggs arearranged in a protected manner.

The configuration of the top part 31 of the lid part can be seen in moredetail in FIG. 2. The top part 31 is enclosed by a top edge 30. The toppart 31 is provided with four retaining depressions 36. The retainingdepressions 36 are offset in relation to the shaped depressions 21 ofthe base part 2, to be precise such that, in the closed state of the eggbox 1, the retaining depressions 36 are arranged centrally in each caseover two shaped depressions 21 which are directly adjacent to oneanother in a row. In the case of the egg box 1 with six shapeddepressions 21 which is illustrated in the exemplary embodiment, fourretaining depressions 36 are thus arranged in the top part 31 of the lidpart 3. The retaining depressions 36 each have a floor 38 containing aconvex upwardly curved recess 37. The recess 37 serves for stiffeningthe floor 38 of the retaining depression 36. By way of the border of thefloor 38, each of the retaining depressions 36 has a stabilizing effecton the top side of the eggs arranged in the adjacent rows of shapeddepressions 21. It is not absolutely necessary, for this purpose, forthe eggs to come into contact with the border of the floor 38 wheninserted; in particular in the case of relatively small eggs, this isoften not the case. The function of the retaining depression 36 is,rather, to limit undesired movement of the top side of the eggs. Thismakes it possible to avoid damage by way of eggs in adjacent shapeddepressions 11 striking against one another as a result of abrupt andrough handling of the egg box. The retaining depressions 36 also servefor additionally stiffening the lid part 3. The egg box 1 can thusbetter protect the packaged eggs against damage. Moreover, the stackingcapability of the egg box 1 improves as a result.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of egg boxes 1, 1′, 1″ in clamping-typeinterconnection with one another. A further egg box 1*, which is not inclamping-type interconnection with the other egg boxes, is alsoillustrated. As can be seen from FIG. 4 or, in detail, also from FIG. 2,the bottom part 2 of the egg packaging 1 has a clamping elevation 5 atthe respective bottom ends of the shaped depressions 21. This clampingelevation is designed as an encircling border of the respective shapeddepression 21. The retaining depressions 36 are formed on the lid part 3so as to function as clamping openings 6. The dimensions of the clampingelevations 5 and clamping openings 6 are coordinated with one anothersuch that the clamping elevations 5 can be accommodated in aforce-fitting manner in the clamping openings 6. Since the retainingdepressions 36 have the same spacing between one another as the shapeddepressions 21 with their clamping elevations 5, it is possible for aplurality of egg boxes 1, 1′ to be connected with clamping action suchthat they are offset in relation to one another. It is expedient herefor the top edge 30 of the lid part 3 to be drawn in to such an extentthat its spacing from the nearest clamping opening 6 is smaller than thespacing of the clamping elevations 5 from one another. This ensuresthat, in the case of one egg box 1 being mounted in an offset manner onanother box 1′, none of the shaped elevations 5 collides with the toppart 31 of the lid part 3. This avoids a skewed fit of the top egg box1. A reliable clamping fit is achieved as a result.

The offset arrangement of the clamping elevations 5 and of the clampingopening 6 further results in it not being possible for egg boxes 1, 1*which are stacked precisely one above the other to get stuck together.This can be seen in the top part of FIG. 4. This is the advantage thatfilled egg boxes, which are usually stacked directly one above the otherfor storage or sales purposes, cannot become stuck to one another. Thisavoids, in a simple but effective manner, the situation where, when theuppermost egg box 1′ is removed, an egg box 1 located therebeneath, oran entire stack of egg boxes, is accidentally also moved alongtherewith, which could result in the stack toppling over and thus in theeggs being damaged.

The offset arrangement also has the advantage that, with egg boxes 1, 1′stacked precisely one upon the other, the clamping elevations 5 rest ineach case on the top part 31 rather than being located over clampingopenings 6, which would result in them having to be borne by the sticker7. This counteracts the risk of the sticker 7 being damaged due tooverloading.

As can further be seen from FIG. 4, it is also correspondingly possiblefor a plurality of egg boxes 1, 1″ to be connected to one another at acorner. This makes the construction of corner structures possible.

The clamping elevations 5 on the underside and the clamping openings 6on the top side allow the egg boxes 1 to be put to a second use asclamping-type building blocks. Since they are available cost-effectivelyand have comparatively large dimensions, they are suitable as a toy forchildren of different ages. Using the egg boxes as clamping-typebuilding blocks, comparatively large structures, for example toy housesor toy castles, can be constructed rapidly and cost-effectively.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a trough 4 is arrangedapproximately in the centre of the top part 31 of the lid part 3. Thetrough 4 is oriented parallel to the axis of the flexible hinge 25 andextends over at least half of the lid part 3, in the example illustratedover approximately ¾ of the length. In the exemplary embodimentillustrated, the trough 4 connects all four retaining depressions 36 toone another. This produces a receiving space 40 which, as seen fromabove, is in the form of a rounded letter “H”. In the case of theexemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a floor 41 of the trough 4is located at a lower level than the floor 38 of the retainingdepressions 36. This produces a central channel within the accommodatingspace 40. It goes without saying that the floor 41 of the trough 4 mayalso be located at a higher level than the floor 38 of the retainingdepressions 36. In the case of the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4, the floor 41 is located at the same height as the floor 38 ofthe retaining depressions 36. The accommodating space 40, which isproduced by the retaining depressions 36 being connected to the trough4, is comparatively large. It is suitable for accommodating bothelongate items and items of irregular configuration, for example abottle opener, by way of its widened end. The length of the trough 4 isexpediently selected such that the item which is to be accommodated canbe conveniently inserted therein. It is not imperative for the length tobe predetermined by the spacing of the retaining depressions 36; it mayalso be selected to be longer or shorter, depending on the respectiverequirements.

In order for it to be possible for egg boxes which are stacked in theopen state to be easily separated from one another, the flanks of thetrough 4 and of the retaining depression 36 are inclined in relation tothe vertical. The degree of inclination depends on the materialproperties, in particular the material thickness and the coefficient offriction, and is usually between 2° and 20°, preferably between 6° and9°. This allows the stacked egg boxes to be destacked again in optimumfashion, i.e. a good denesting capability is achieved.

In order to avoid the situation where the item inserted into theaccommodating space 40 drops out during transportation, a sticker 7 isprovided. The latter is adhesively bonded to the top part 31 of the lidpart 3 such that it extends over the four retaining depressions 36 andthe trough 4, with the result that the entire accommodating space 40 iscovered by the sticker 7. However, the sticker 7 serves not just forpreventing the inserted item from dropping out. It also has the functionof hiding from the user's view the item which has been inserted into theaccommodating space 40. As a result, it is only when he tears off thesticker 7 from the lid part of the egg box 1 that the user knows whatkind of item is hidden behind it in the accommodating space 40. Thisachieves a very much desirable sense of surprise, and the user is leftwith a greater and more positive impression of the egg box. The sticker7 has the further advantage that it also provides a printing surfacewhich can be utilized for product information or advertising. Thesticker shown in FIG. 3 may be of any desired size, as long as it coversthe trough 4 and the retaining depressions 36 to a sufficient extent. Itis also possible for this sticker to be of considerably largerconfiguration; its front side may thus be extended as far as the bottomedge of the front part 33 of the lid part 3.

1. A packaging for foodstuffs, comprising a bottom part having at leastone row of shaped depressions formed therein for accommodating separatearticles, and a lid part configured for swing action on the bottom part,the bottom part and the lid part being provided with complementaryclamping elevations and clamping openings, wherein the clamping openingsare arranged on one of the lid part or bottom part and the clampingelevations are arranged on the other of the lid part or the bottom part,the clamping openings being offset in relation to the clampingelevations.
 2. The foodstuffs packaging according to claim 1, whereinthe clamping elevations and the clamping openings are respectively nohigher or deeper than a maximum nesting height of 4 to 15 mm.
 3. Thefoodstuffs packaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clampingopenings are arranged approximately centrally over adjacent clampingelevations.
 4. The foodstuffs packaging according to claim 1 or 2,wherein the top edge of the lid part is configured such that the spacingof the nearest clamping opening is less than or equal to the freespacing between two adjacent clamping elevations.
 5. The foodstuffspackaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the clamping elevations andthe clamping openings have a conicity of 2° to 15°.
 6. The foodstuffspackaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least six clampingelevations arranged in a double row are provided.
 7. The foodstuffspackaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid part has a trough,which is open in the upward direction and a cover which closes off thetrough in the upward direction.
 8. The foodstuffs packaging according toclaim 7, wherein the cover is a sticker.
 9. The foodstuffs packagingaccording to claim 7, wherein the lid part is provided with retainingdepressions connected to the trough.
 10. The foodstuffs packagingaccording to claim 9, wherein the trough and the retaining depressionshave approximately the same depth.
 11. The foodstuffs packagingaccording to claim 7, wherein the trough or the retaining depressionshas a depth which is no greater than a maximum nesting height of thefoodstuffs packaging.
 12. The foodstuffs packaging according to claim 9,wherein the retaining depressions are offset laterally in relation tothe shaped depressions.
 13. The foodstuffs packaging according to claim9, wherein the retaining depressions have an indent on their floor. 14.The foodstuffs packaging according to claim 9, wherein the clampingopenings are formed by the retaining depressions.
 15. The foodstuffspackaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the articles being packagedare eggs.
 16. The foodstuffs packaging according to claim 1 or 2,wherein the clamping elevations and the clamping openings arerespectively no higher or deeper than a maximum nesting height of 7 to 9mm.
 17. The foodstuffs packaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein theclamping elevations and the clamping openings have a conicity of 7° to9°.